Jack Grealish, sidelined at Manchester City, sent a heartfelt boost to Dele Alli after the latter’s comical spin on a disastrous debut for his new club, Como. Alli, 28, joined the Serie A side under Cesc Fabregas in January, opting for Italy over a teased Tottenham return—hinted at when he shared an old goal clip from his Everton days. Fitness woes delayed his first game, but on March 15 against AC Milan, Alli’s cameo turned sour fast. Nine minutes after subbing on, he saw red for a wild lunge at ex-Chelsea man Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Still, Alli found humor in the flop, posting on Instagram: “2 years! Not necessarily how I planned it, but we keep moving.” The caption nodded to his two-year competitive hiatus, and former teammates rallied in the comments. Grealish chimed in with, “He’s ******* back, my brother man,” while Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon dropped supportive emojis. Even Loftus-Cheek liked the post, with Alli revealing a screenshot of their lighthearted exchange about the tackle.
After his Everton contract expired last summer, Alli stayed sharp training with the Toffees through December. His Como debut was a bust, but with a suspension to serve, the ex-Tottenham star—whose career stats boast 269 appearances and 67 goals for Spurs—might yet turn this Italian chapter into a career revival.
Meanwhile, Grealish’s own path looks shaky. After Man City’s 2-2 draw with Brighton, where he warmed the bench yet again—his fifth time in seven Premier League games—he posted a fan update. With his minutes dwindling and transfer rumors swirling, Grealish could be eyeing a reset like Alli’s. For now, his “brother man” shoutout shows solidarity, but his City future hangs in the balance.
